Indonesia earthquake: Rescue teams race against time as death toll rises

Rescue teams are in a race against time in eastern Indonesia following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck early Saturday. The death toll has climbed to 38, with officials also reporting two serious injuries, 11 minor injuries, and approximately 2,000 people voluntarily evacuating their homes. The earthquake, with a shallow focus just 10 kilometers deep, hit at 5:58 a.m. local time. Its epicenter was located offshore of Flores Island, about 68 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Ende in the East Nusa Tenggara province. The strong tremors were felt across much of East and West Nusa Tenggara, and parts of South Sulawesi, accompanied by several powerful aftershocks. Residents in many areas described the main quake lasting for about a minute. Buildings collapsed and sustained severe damage in several areas of Flores. Power outages and communication disruptions are significantly complicating rescue operations and the full assessment of the disaster. Patients were preemptively moved from hospitals, with medical staff transferring beds, oxygen tanks, and other critical equipment to outdoor areas. In Sika, panic erupted at a Roman Catholic seminary when a classroom ceiling collapsed during morning prayers. Students and nuns rushed out of the building, and one priest was injured jumping from the second floor. Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning, urging coastal residents to move to higher ground. However, the warning was later lifted as no significant sea level changes indicating an immediate threat were recorded. Indonesia is situated in the Pacific's "Ring of Fire," a highly seismically active zone prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

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The death of 38 people has been confirmed, another two were seriously injured, 11 suffered minor injuries, and about 2,000 people left their homes of their own initiative.